Waiting on Wednesday: The Runaway King

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I am eagerly waiting on...

The Runaway King, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Summary (from Goodreads):
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

The Runaway King will be released March 1st 2013 by Scholastic Press.

What are you guys waiting for this week? Leave thoughts and links in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Madman's Daughter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I am eagerly waiting on...

The Madman's Daughter, by Megan Shepard

Summary (from Goodreads):
In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

The Madman's Daughter will be released January 29th 2013 by Balzer + Bray.

What are you guys waiting for this week? Leave thoughts and links in the comments!

Bookish Quotes: Fly By Night

Hello Readers! I decided to try out a new feature:

My first attempt at this feature is from Fly By Night (click for my review), one of my all-time favorite books, which I happen to be rereading right now.

This quote is one of so, so, so many that I could have picked. I could probably pick out a quote I love from every single page. I feel that this quote is particularly significant, however, because it is, in a way, the centerpiece of the story: the power of language. I especially like the keys in the image (which I found and does not belong to me!) because it underlines the connection between power and literacy.

What do you think? 

Should I continue with this feature?

Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars

by Diana Peterfreund
Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars #1
Hardcover, 402 pages
Published June 12th 2012 by Balzer + Bray
Age Recommendation: Young Adult

Summary (from Goodreads):
It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

I was initially unsure about this retelling, but in time it won me over completely. In the beginning, there were a lot of names thrown out and things mentioned that weren't explained until later, so I felt a little lost going into the story. Everything was soon cleared up, however, and I was able to enjoy it very much.

The combination of retelling and new material seemed very well balanced to me. I loved connecting events and characters to their Persuasion counterparts, but the story seemed very fresh and new. I especially liked the moral dilemmas and the conflict lent by the post-apocalyptic setting that was incorporated into the story.

I found the whole Reduction / technology struggle fascinating, and it seemed to fit perfectly into the class struggle between the Reduced and the Luddites and into the Persuasion story.

I really enjoyed the added element of the letters between Elliot and Kai from their childhood, as I felt it gave insight into Kai's character whereas without the letters he would have been nearly unreachable. In the main narrative, Kai reveals very little, so I enjoyed seeing what he was like by the letters he wrote years earlier. I didn't find Kai's final letter to be quite as powerful as Wentworth's original, but in large part because of the letters, I grew quite fond of Kai.

The other characters as well were quite likable, although I wouldn't have minded more development for most of them. Ro was the kind of character you couldn't help but like, and her relationship with Elliot definitely became one of the reasons I grew to like Elliot. The Innovations and the other Posts were great characters as well and I loved reading about them. My favorite secondary character was probably Tatiana, though, because she was so incredibly oblivious and so much fun to roll my eyes at (I enjoyed her character equivalent in Persuasion as well).

Overall Thoughts: An excellent retelling of Persuasion with just enough new elements to create an original and thought-provoking story. I recommend reading Persuasion first, though. Although prior knowledge of the story is not at all essential, it seems that a reader would get more out of For Darkness Shows the Stars if they were familiar with Persuasion.

Waiting on Wednesday: Everbound

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I am eagerly waiting on...

Everbound, by Brodi Ashton

Summary (from Goodreads):
Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

Everbound will be released January 22nd 2013 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins.

What are you guys waiting for this week? Leave thoughts and links in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: Mind Games

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I am eagerly waiting on...

Mind Games, by Kiersten White

Summary (from Goodreads):
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Mind Games will be released February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen.

What are you guys waiting for this week? Leave thoughts and links in the comments!

Graphic Novel Readathon Wrap-Up

The Graphic Novel Readathon is finally over! I personally didn't read nearly as much as I'd hoped finishing the readathon with only 3 books, but Logan, the other participant, read 5 books during the readathon. Congrats, Logan!

I wish there had been more participation, since my favorite part of readathoning is the community of readathoners who cheer each other on. I hope to host another GNR in the future, and maybe more people will be interested next time.

Missed anything? Here are all the readathon posts:

Introduction and Updates

Mini-Challenge #1

Mini-Challenge #2

Mini-Challenge #3

Interview with Nathan Hale

Author Interview: Nathan Hale

Here is is at last: the highlight of the Graphic Novel Readathon. Please welcome Nathan Hale, amazing author of many graphic novels and picture books.

You can find him drawing daily comics on his blog, Space Station Nathan, or pick up one of his fantastic books (pictured below).

Who is your favorite character to draw?

Right now, the Hangman from Hazardous Tales. He's sort of like the Devil from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and Yellowbelly from YELLOWBELLY AND PLUM smooshed together in a black executioner outfit. I could draw that guy all day. Actually, I DO draw that guy all day.


Which of your books was the most fun to create? Which are you the most proud of?

Fun to create? FRANKENSTEIN. Why fun? Because it was a loosey-goosey, scribbly style (after the style of Ludwig Bemelmen's MADELINE) it was quick, easy and fun to do. It took about a month to do and was a joy to work on. (Note to illustrators: scribbly, sketchy styles go a lot quicker than fussy, over-detailed styles. If you can work loose--DO IT!)

I'm the most proud of THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, because it was my first. It was an unagented slushpile manuscript. Getting a picture book published out of a slushpile is pretty exciting. It wasn't a big seller, and it got a bad review or two. But it's my first, and I'll always be proud of it.

What are some of your favorite graphic novels (to read, not write)?

I grew up reading newspaper comics. I didn't start reading comic BOOKS until I was in college. The school I went to, Cornish College of the Arts is in Seattle, where Fantagraphic Books is located. Fantagraphics publishes classic golden age comics, Little Nemo, Krazy Kat, Pogo etc. and underground/alternative comix. Both of which I really got into.

Right now I'm reading the Carl Barks Duck cartoons (the old Disney comics that Ducktales is based on) and re-reading Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki which just came out in a GORGEOUS new hardcover set (go out and buy it, you won't regret it--1000 pages of epic Miyazaki adventure!)

How has the rise in ebooks affected your job as an illustrator / graphic novelist?

So far there has been little effect. Picture books and graphic novels are still very tactile objects (especially picture books) so, unlike novels, my market hasn't changed too much (yet.) I think most smart parents are now looking for ways for their children to spend LESS time with screens (not more.) So hopefully the traditional picture book market will continue to stand. Now, that said, my Hazardous Tales books are out in both Nook and Kindle versions--I haven't see either. I don't own a tablet. But if any of your readers have seen the ebook versions, I'd like to hear how they look.

You have mentioned in other interviews that you listen to audiobooks while working. Which are your favorite books to listen to?

I'm a genre jumper. I don't like to listen to books in the same genre back-to-back. For years, I just took whatever the library had in unabridged audio form. So I read all over the place. Now it's habit. I like everything. Mostly, I like crime, war, horror, and westerns--gritty tough guy stuff. Right now I'm in the middle of the latest Harry Bosch detective novel THE BLACK BOX.


Do the books you are listening to affect your work at all?

Nope. I guess, sometimes it makes working more fun. But the work has to be consistent with it's own story, not with what I'm listening to.

Which comes first, the idea of an illustration or the idea of the story?

For me, story first. Every time.

What is your work day like? Do you draw all day or just a couple of hours each day?

I work all day, every day. If you want to make a full-time career as an illustrator, you work ALL THE TIME. I once saw the great illustrator Wendell Minor speak, he said his work schedule was 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The audience laughed--they thought he was joking. He wasn't joking. And he doesn't do graphic novels. Creating a graphic novel takes hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours. It's a major time commitment. There's a manga series out there called BAKUMAN, about some kids who want to be Manga creators. One of the kids has an uncle who draws manga--he literally DIES from working too much. It is labor. I tell my writer friends it's like writing a novel using macaroni and a glue gun for the letters.

Do you create multiple drafts of each illustration or just begin drawing?

Everything I do is sketched out and reviewed by the publisher before final art (except for my blog posts.)

What is coming up next for you?

I JUST finished Hazardous Tales #3, which I'm VERY excited about. And I'm moving right into #4, which I'm even MORE excited about because I'm just about to jump into final illustrations for it. #3 will be out this summer and #4 in Spring '14. The second Hazardous Tales book, BIG BAD IRONCLAD was just shortlisted for a Cybil award, and I'll be watching excitedly to see if it wins.

And, of course, I'll be blogging new comics and stories on my site.

Thanks for the interview!
Thank you, Nate!

Graphic Novel Readathon Mini-Challenge #3

Here we have the third of three mini-challenges during this readathon. Each frame shows the main character(s) of a graphic novel that I loved, and you can guess the books that they each come from below.

There are two different giveaways you can win entires for if you participate in this challenge. You get an extra entry for the main readathon giveaway if you just participate, regardless of how many you get right, AND if you can guess all five books for any of the three challenges, you will be entered into a separate giveaway to win a graphic novel of your choice! For every mini-challenge you complete correctly, you receive an extra point for this giveaway.

Hint: If you're stuck, all of the books come from this list.

Good luck!

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

And now it is time for you to guess! fill in this form with your answers.

 Are you participating in the Graphic Novel Readathon? Sign up or get more information here.

The readathon is 4 days of graphic novel fun, giveaways, interviews, and more!

Happy readathoning!

Graphic Novel Readathon Mini-Challenge #2

Here we have the second of three mini-challenges during this readathon. Each frame shows the main character(s) of a graphic novel that I loved, and you can guess the books that they each come from below.

There are two different giveaways you can win entires for if you participate in this challenge. You get an extra entry for the main readathon giveaway if you just participate, regardless of how many you get right, AND if you can guess all five books for any of the three challenges, you will be entered into a separate giveaway to win a graphic novel of your choice! For every mini-challenge you complete correctly, you receive an extra point for this giveaway.

Hint: If you're stuck, all of the books come from this list.

Good luck!

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

And now it is time for you to guess! fill in this form with your answers.

 Are you participating in the Graphic Novel Readathon? Sign up or get more information here.

The readathon is 4 days of graphic novel fun, giveaways, interviews, and more!

Happy readathoning!

Graphic Novel Readathon Mini-Challenge #1

Here we have the first of three mini-challenges during this readathon. Each frame shows the main character(s) of a graphic novel that I loved, and you can guess the books that they each come from below.

There are two different giveaways you can win entires for if you participate in this challenge. You get an extra entry for the main readathon giveaway if you just participate, regardless of how many you get right, AND if you can guess all five books for any of the three challenges, you will be entered into a separate giveaway to win a graphic novel of your choice! For every mini-challenge you complete correctly, you receive an extra point for this giveaway.

Hint: If you're stuck, all of the books come from this list.

Good luck!

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

And now it is time for you to guess! fill in this form with your answers.

 Are you participating in the Graphic Novel Readathon? Sign up or get more information here.

The readathon is 4 days of graphic novel fun, giveaways, interviews, and more!

Happy readathoning!

Graphic Novel Readathon Starting Line & Updates

It's January 3rd, which means that it's time to begin the Graphic Novel Readathon!

The sign-up list is below, but since there's only one person signed up (hi Logan), I will have to cancel the giveaways unless more people choose to participate.



Everyone is welcome to sign up at any point in the readathon, and even if you're not readathoning with us, please enjoy the fun features going on in the next few days.

The first of the mini-challenges will be posted today. Unfortunately, I do not plan to have a giveaway for the winner, but if there are enough entries I will absolutely have that giveaway. There will be two more mini-challenges in the coming days, and on Sunday, Nathan Hale will be stopping by for an interview.

My Reading List:

• Bone by Jeff Smith
• Uglies: Shay's Story and Uglies: Cutters by Scott Westerfeld (Read 3 January)
• Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale
• Anya's Ghost by Vera Brogsol (Read 4 January)

I expect Bone to take up a lot of readathoning time, but it's also the book I'm most looking forward to.

DAY ONE
january 3
Today I read Uglies: Shay's Story and Uglies: Cutters. I really liked Shay's Story, perhaps even more than I had the first time I read it, but I was ambivalent about Cutters. I liked the metaphor-story about the ranger that was not included in the book, but I felt like a graphic novel format was not the best way to tell the story, and that if I hadn't already known what was going on from reading Pretties, I would have been lost for a lot of the book. Tomorrow I'd like to start Bone, but I might read Anya's Ghost instead. I'm planning to finish the readathon with Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, since I love those two so much.

DAY TWO
january 4
Today I did not read much, but I did get through Anya's Ghost, which was just as good as I remembered.

DAY THREE
january 5
Again I did not read much today. I read so many graphic novels in December to prepare for this readathon that I am not feeling so motivated to read now that the readathon is actually happening. I hope tomorrow Rapunzel's Revenge will get me out of the graphic novel slump.

DAY FOUR
january 6
xx

Happy Readathoning!

What are you reading?